The 1,300 acre Tuscan estate where Tony Blair spent his summer holidays has
been seized as his aristocratic host faces fraud charges, it has been
reported.

Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister, also criticised David Cameron for failing to tackle EuroscepticismPhoto: REX

By Hayley Dixon

7:34AM BST 30 May 2013

A magistrate took control of grand estate Fattoria di Cusona, near San Gimignano, as part of an investigation into the actions of Prince Girolamo Strozzi, a law professor at Florence University who belongs to one of Northern Italy's oldest banking families.

The 16th Century mansion has been in the 75-year-old aristocrat’s family since 1524.

Related Articles

The estate, accessible only by a narrow private road, is surrounded by vineyards and a working farm and has its own pool.

Mr Strozzi has also dined with Silvio Berlusconi, and is seen as having right-wing tendencies.

The latest developments could prove an embarrassment for Mr Blair, as it is alleged that the Italian nobleman is involved in a scandal surrounding the alleged misuse of public funds for two local newspapers between 2002 and 2011.

He was chairman on the board of Societa Toscana di Edizioni, which was set up by Denis Verdini, a prominent MP from Mr Berlusconi's party.

They are now among 20 people under investigation for allegedly manipulating circulation figures and costs in order to be eligible for some €19 million (£16.2 million) of government subsidies, it is reported.

A second local newspaper, Metropoli Day, is also alleged to have received €10 million in unwarranted subsidies.

Paola Belsito, a magistrate, last month froze assets of those involved, including the Fattoria di Cusona estate, it has been reported.

"The prince has always affirmed the correctness of the [government] contributions," Mr Strozzi's lawyer, Antonio D'Avirro, told the newspaper. "There is a sequestration but the property remains completely available to the prince."

The lawyer said that the prince was challenging the seizure of the estate. He noted that the court had already seized more than enough of the prince's properties to cover his potential €1.5 million liability when it took control of some of his farmland elsewhere in November 2011.

The estate will continue to operate as normal until the case comes to completion, it is said.

Rachel Grant, a spokeswoman for Mr Blair, said the former Prime Minister had no comment on the seizure.